Michigan
15-3,6-1Big Ten
Vanderbilt
19-0,5-0SEC
Second-Half Rally Falls Short Against No. 5 Vanderbilt
1/19/2026 6:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEWARK, N.J. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team erased a 19-point deficit and pulled within two points on three occasions in the final five minutes, including once with 44 seconds remaining, but could not complete the comeback in a 72-69 loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt on Monday afternoon (Jan. 19) at the Prudential Center.
With Michigan within four points following a basket from Syla Swords in the final minute, Kendall Dudley stole the ball at halfcourt and converted a layup to trim the deficit to 71-69 with 44 seconds to play. Vanderbilt missed two shots on its ensuing possession, allowing Michigan to call timeout and advance the ball with 13 seconds remaining.
Te'Yala Delfosse found Olivia Olson for a right-point three-pointer that went off the side of the rim. Vanderbilt advanced the ball after a timeout and Michigan was forced to foul. The Commodores split the free throws, giving the Wolverines one final opportunity with 2.5 seconds left. Swords' corner three-point attempt fell short, sealing the Vanderbilt victory.
Dudley led a trio of Wolverines in double figures, scoring 16 points on 8-for-10 shooting to go with four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Swords added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Olson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Brooke Quarles Daniels contributed seven points, 10 rebounds and four steals in 33 minutes.
Michigan scored the first five points of the contest on a Mila Holloway three-pointer and a layup from Ashley Sofilkanich, but Vanderbilt answered with 15 of the next 18 points to take a 15-8 lead at the 3:45 mark. Dudley stopped the run with a basket on Michigan's next possession, and a Swords three-pointer followed by another Dudley layup pulled the Wolverines within three, 18-15, with 1:22 remaining. Vanderbilt connected on a three-pointer on its final possession of the quarter, with Delfosse countering with a layup to make it 21-17 after 10 minutes.
The Commodores opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run, extending their lead to 31-17 just 1:20 into the period. Dudley again halted the surge with a layup at the 8:16 mark. Michigan followed with seven straight points, sparked by a McKenzie Mathurin three-pointer and back-to-back layups from Dudley and Quarles Daniels to cut the deficit to eight, 36-28, with just over three minutes remaining before halftime.
Vanderbilt closed the half by scoring 11 of the final 13 points, taking a 47-30 advantage into the break behind seven three-pointers on 50 percent shooting.
Michigan opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run, capped by a steal-and-score from Quarles Daniels, to pull within single digits at 61-53 and force a Vanderbilt timeout with 1:46 remaining. Neither team scored the rest of the period, and the Commodores carried a 61-53 lead into the fourth.
The Wolverines began the final quarter on an 8-2 run to set up the closing five minutes of play.
Michigan completes its two-game swing through the Garden State on Thursday (Jan. 22), traveling to Rutgers to face the Scarlet Knights at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
